In the late 1930s and early 40s, Hal Roach Studios started moving away from their usual short films (Laurel and Hardy, Charley Chase and the Little Rascals) and began making one hour B-comedies. Some, such at the Topper series, were very successful while others (like this film) were not.
The film starts off reasonably well. First, you notice that the studio hired the services of Joan Bennett and it's also the first film for Victor Mature (who, oddly, has a rather high-pitched and weak voice at times in the film--he must have later taken voice lessons). Second, the supporting characters such as Adolph Menjou (a perennial in these Roach films) and George E. Stone helped this film to have a little bit of life. Plus the plot seemed pretty interesting--a rich young guy wants to become a reporter and THINKS he's been hired to cover a murder for the paper.
Unfortunately, while having some good moments, it truly looks like late in the film they really had no idea where to go so they had the gangsters take everyone hostage (this made little sense as the gangsters hadn't committed the murder) and Menjou and his sidekick run amok shooting off fireworks everywhere. It's supposed to be funny, but it just looks like they ran out of ideas. Plus, shooting off fireworks for no reason looks like a leftover idea from a Little Rascals short--and not appropriate for an adult comedy.
Overall, this is a rather dopey little time-passer and nothing more.
The film starts off reasonably well. First, you notice that the studio hired the services of Joan Bennett and it's also the first film for Victor Mature (who, oddly, has a rather high-pitched and weak voice at times in the film--he must have later taken voice lessons). Second, the supporting characters such as Adolph Menjou (a perennial in these Roach films) and George E. Stone helped this film to have a little bit of life. Plus the plot seemed pretty interesting--a rich young guy wants to become a reporter and THINKS he's been hired to cover a murder for the paper.
Unfortunately, while having some good moments, it truly looks like late in the film they really had no idea where to go so they had the gangsters take everyone hostage (this made little sense as the gangsters hadn't committed the murder) and Menjou and his sidekick run amok shooting off fireworks everywhere. It's supposed to be funny, but it just looks like they ran out of ideas. Plus, shooting off fireworks for no reason looks like a leftover idea from a Little Rascals short--and not appropriate for an adult comedy.
Overall, this is a rather dopey little time-passer and nothing more.